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| Home / Articles / Top Attractions / Daily travelling costs in South Africa |
| Daily travelling costs in South Africa |
South Africa is consistently regarded as one of the most beautiful countries in the world, often due to the variety on offer for travelers to the land. Another attractive quality of the country is that the US Dollar is still strong against the South African Rand, making travel to this gorgeous part of the world more and more alluring.
One US dollar is currently worth 7.5 Rands (January 2010), quite a good progression from the meager 5.612 in January of 2005. Not many long-haul destinations can offer such great value for money with so much to offer in the form of natural beauty, historical, cultural, and geographical splendor.
The best part of this is because of reasonable travel expenses, you can really enjoy your holiday without having too worry too much about your pocket. A 7 day stay at a five star hotel in Johannesburg costs about $850 thanks mostly to a fluctuation in the dollar rand exchange rate. A year ago the same hotel would have cost at least $900. A night in a comfortable but basic hotel will amount to in the region of R300 per person, and luxury hotels in the big cities start from R800.
Accommodation, however is not the traveller’s only financial worry. A holiday in South Africa can save you a lot of money on activities, meals, and entertainment compared to many other top class destinations. A meal at a good restaurant in Cape Town would currently cost $8, while a year ago it would have cost $10.50, and when you’re travelling for a few weeks, those little dollars all add up.
The cost of goods and food products on the outskirts of the city is also more affordable, but it is also good to know where to shop. All supermarkets do not carry the same price tag, and going to the ‘wrong’ one could mean you spending thrice the amount of money on basically the same good. All sold products are inclusive of value-added tax while other services like education and transportation do not have additions.
Food and drinks in the country are moderately priced and also help with travelling expenses. Seafood is also abundant especially in coastal areas like Cape Town, at affordable rates. Due to South Africa’s diverse fortunate geography, fruits and vegetables are plenty year round, and many of these products are exported. Of course, it goes without saying that buying from food markets is the best option, as not only are their good guaranteed to be fresher, and cost less, but they also provide discounts for bulk buying.
Like most places in the world, shopping for clothes and accessories in South Africa’s big department stores and malls can be pricey. Although there are a great number of imported products on the market, locally made products are often cheaper.
Services Costs in South Africa
The city’s transport infrastructure is regarded as one of the best in Africa. Airports are well maintained as well as other public transportation services like buses and trains, which are continuing to undergo major changes in development.
Currently South Africa’s economy is in the top 20 with a total GDP of over 570 billion euros. Per capita GDP is estimated at over 12,000 euros, ranking 58th worldwide.
All in all, South Africa seems like a really good place for a tourist to be!
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| Top Attractions in South Africa |
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